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What a great trip, from the headwaters of the Mississippi to it’s mouth 2215 miles. From the backroads and highways well traveled and new, we’ve seen so much of our beautiful country driving through the mid section it was just awesome. Jim and I have never been through Mississippi or Louisiana before, such a rich history the south has. So many different cultures from the French and Spanish to Creoles and Africans. From slavery to freedom, a Civil War, hurricanes, loss and recovery.
We’ve seen gas prices from $3.69 in Minnesota to $3.19 in Louisiana. We had more sunny days than cloudy.
We’ve eaten most of our meals at local spots, from Minnesota Walleye to Louisiana Catfish.
We’ve met new people and caught up with old friends.
Thanks to our traveling buddies for another enjoyable trip. Thanks to everyone who’s been following along and those who’ve just discovered us.
Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Judy and Jim
September 30, 2011

This is our last day in New Orleans and my last blog of the trip. We have lots to see today, we took the trolley back to the French Quarter, again to the Cafe Beignet to meet up with our tour guide Gwen a 4th generation Creole. She showed us the different styles of architecture used by the Creoles and different areas built by Creoles and the “whites”, “nothing personal it’s part of history” she said. The French were the first to move in in 1718 and their legacy endures with the central square, the Church of St. Louis, the cities military style grid of 70 squares, street names such as Royal and Bourbon. In 1762 they sold out to Spain who brought wall plastered brick houses, walled courtyards and utility spaces with separate kitchens and servants quarters, olive oil cooking and graceful wrought iron balconies.
It was bought by the United States in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. Well, enough with the history, there’s plenty more to tell but for another day.

The trees along St. Charles are covered with beads. They must have really wild parties around here.

Waiting for the trolley.

Gerry and Lisa

Gerry, could have sworn his hands were elsewhere…

Listening to our tour guide Gwen. She was very dramatic.

She was explaining the difference between wrought iron and cast iron.

The sharp points on this post were meant to keep young gentlemen from climbing onto the balconies.

Another deterent.

St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest Catholic Church in continual use in the US. Completed in 1794.

The buggy line.

General Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of New Orleans. Dedicated in 1856.

After a good lunch at Franks we walked to the WWII Museum just a short mile and a half away. Picture at the bottom.

WWII Museum

It’s first goal was to be a museum devoted to D Day.

Higgins boats built for the Navy and used during the D Day invasion of Normandy and the landing on Omaha Beach.

Higgins boats employed 30,000 people during the war, producing all types of small boats.

Mary, Kathey and her sister Lori.
The museum was very interesting, it started out concentrating on D Day and as the Vets started coming they brought with them their stories and their helmets and other memorabilia until it grew to cover the war both in Europe and the Pacific. Anyway, it’s certainly worth a visit if you’re ever in the area.

Hopped on the trolley again to our dinner stop at Mandina’s, another local favorite. We were joined by a local couple for the evening Joe and Ann driving their cherry 1966 Corvette Stingray. We’re trying to get them to join our gang for the next trip.

Heading into Mandina’s for dinner.

Posing for the camera.

Below is Lisa, what the heck, Damsel in distress?

Couldn’t leave New Orleans without a quick cemetery visit, Lafayette #1.

Franks our lunch stop.

After a super day yesterday along with an exciting evening walk along Bourbon Street last night, we’re up early this morning to take in the last 80 miles to Venice, Louisiana, the official end of the Great River Road and our trip.
Our first stop of the day is Old Fort Jackson, named after Andrew Jackson, and built in 1822-32. Located 40 miles upriver of the mouth of the Mississippi and was to be a coastal defense site to protect New Orleans. During the Civil War it was Confederate controlled until it was lost to the US Navy fleet in 1862. It then became a Union Prison Camp, and a training facility after WWI. It’s now a historical landmark. The fort was devastated during Katrina and has only recently reopened, however it still needs to undergo major repairs, it once contained many historical artifacts which were either removed or lost to Katrina.

Let me introduce the cars: Gerry, Doug, Jim, Roy, John, New Joe, Bob, Paul and Jerry

Mary

Ship traffic on the Mighty Miss

More of Fort Jackson, newly opened but still flood damaged.

The below pictures are random shots of traveling down to the mouth of the Mississippi.

We finally reached the end of the road in Venice. This quiet little fishing community was devastated by Katrina but they have persevered and rebuilt. The Marina has a really nice restaurant, we all had plenty for lunch.

End of the road picture.

Road Warriors-Jerry, Gerry, Lisa, Jim, Jude, Doug, Mary Bob, Joanie, Kathy, Roy, John, Mary Carol and Paul. Jeff and Penny our other traveling buddies didn’t make it all the way but were with us in spirit.

End of the road and end of the Mississippi.

Lots of swamp land.

Venice Marina, devestated by Katrina but back to full strength

Jim, John, Mary Carol, Jan and Joe.

A successful fishing trip.

 Tuna steaks anyone?

They say the bayou area has the best fishing anywhere.

There we are, the blue dot on the map.

All the cemetaries are above ground here.

Roadside stop.

A local hot spot for Dinner.

I just loaded yesterday’s pictures so go back and take a look.
Today we are only 8 cars heading into New Orleans, Jeff and Penny are heading back to Arkansas where they have a family business that needs their attention.
It’s a hot and muggy one again today, looks like rain coming in for tonight and tomorrow.
We’ll be staying in the Garden District and heading by trolley to the French Quarter for some sightseeing. We’ll board a river boat tonight for a dinner cruise.
Fun fact: 60% of the grain exported by the US is shipped down the Mississippi River to be loaded on ocean-going vessels at ports in Louisiana.
Sugar cane is the predominant crop between Baton Rouge and New Orleans due to the wet climate. Cotton is king from Baton Rouge up to Natchez.
The world’s longest bridge over water is the 24 mile Lake Pontchatrain Causeway connecting Metairie with St. Tammany Parish.
I’ll be back with pictures later.

After arriving at our hotel, we had lunch just around the corner at the Superior Grill. A really quaint Mexican fare restaurant with great brisket nachos, very generous portions of everything.
The first pictures are of the drive in to New Orleans, all taken from the car .

The Super Dome, looks alot better than it did if you remember the post Katrina pictures.

In the background is the Robert E. Lee statue in New Orleans. The statue is facing North and he said he would never turn his back to his enemy. Hoping to get over there during our visit.

The old homes are wonderful.

You should see all the beaded necklaces hanging from the trees, electric lines, bushes, they’re all up and down St. Charles street.

The Superior Grill, lunch stop.

It’s a good thing we all like to eat.

Lisa and Joan, we have Linus statues they have the Cable Car.
Next we rode the Trolley down St. Charles St. to Bourbon St. and into the French Quarter we went. Very interesting, lots of bars, shops, people, bars, bars and more bars.

Walking to Bourbon Street.

Guess who, one is Lisa and one is me.

Love these interior courtyards.

This is where we are at this moment.

Looking out at St. Louis Cathedral and Andrew Jackson.
Our next adventure was to take a dinner cruise on board a 1927 Steam driven paddle wheeler called the Natchez. As we were boarding the calliope was playing and it took us back in time to the era of the steam boats. Dinner on board was good, buffet style with chicken, fish, pork roast, brisket, salads, potatoes and dessert. The river was beautiful at dusk and the skyline nothing like it was in 1927.

The Natchez

Jan, Joe, John, Mary Carol and Jim

What a nice evening.

On board

The skyline

Joan, Mary and Lisa

New Orleans riverfront.
After the boat trip we walked back up bourbon street tired yet really excited for what was next.

Walking down Bourbon Street

The gang

Entertainment, for a street corner Jazz band they were really good. You’ll see alot of that on Bourbon Street. Along with alot of other things but this site is rated PG.

Happy Monday everyone, thanks for following along, send me a comment, I’d like to know who my audience is.
I’m doing most of this on my iPhone while driving, as we’re going along around corners and over bumps in the road, I find myself often hitting the wrong letters and having to go back and correct whole sentences. But, this is so easy, I’ll take my chances with misspellings.
Today is going to be a scorcher, hot and humid. No more nice cool fall days for the rest of the week until we turn around and head back north.
We’re going from Baton Rouge 111 miles to Morgan City today. We’re visiting a Plantation and the National Petroleum Museum.
We’re close to the end the blue dot is us in the pic below.

We’re almost there.
On we go to the Oak Alley Plantation, it all begins with the trees. Sometime in the early 1700’s, a settler built a small house on the site of the present mansion. He planted 28 live oak trees in 2 well spaced rows, reaching from his house to the Mississippi river. Then in 1839 a wealthy sugar planter built the present mansion. The trees are now 300 years old with a life expectancy of 600 years. They are truly magnificent.
What saved many of the plantation mansions in New Orleans was a corrupt General sent by Lincoln to assess the takeover of the city.
We also welcomed Joe and Jan from Florida and Rt 66 friends onto our tour the rest of the way.

These oaks were amazing.

Jan and Joe from Florida.

These oaks will be here for 3 more centuries.

Oak Alley Plantation. The sight of several movies, TV shows and commercials. Some you might recognize and I’ll have to check them out; “Primary Colors” with Kathy Bates and Billy Bob Thornton, “Interview with a Vampire” with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, the daytime soap “Days of our Lives”,  “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” with Bette Davis, even Ghost Hunters the cable show, did a paranormal investigation here, along with many more.

No pictures inside young man.

Roy and Jim watching Jan take a picture.

The Civil War Historian, he’s loaded with facts. I’m sipping a Mint Julep, before noon thanks to my husband.

That’s us.

You’re not seeing any inside pics of the mansions because picture taking is not allowed, everything in this mansion has been restored to the period and it’s very nice. There is one bedroom piece that is original. From 1912-1917 the mansion stood vacant but was used by animals and horses which were allowed to go through the house pretty much trashing the original marble floors.

Our next stop was the International Petroleum Museum and training center.
It was the first of it’s kind.

Our tour guide and oil rig worker.

Trying to get everyones attention for a picture is hard to do.

Named Mr. Charlie

Pretty cramped in here.

It’s like living aboard a ship.

There she blows……

They make lots of money but it’s very hard work.

After a very hot and muggy day we went to a local Mexican restaurant for dinner and Margaritas.

Intently studying the menus, the concensus was everything is good.

John and Jim are oblivious.

Enjoying Margharitas.

Wait-That’s my plate he’s taking!

We thanked Roy and Doug for the great job they did planning our trip, it involved many weeks of scouting last year and lots of Internet time, we all had a fantastic time. Tomorrow we’ll be 9 cars rolling into New Orleans.

We’re in Natchez this morning, going to be a hot one today. Driving 121 miles to Baton Rouge. Wheels up at 9 and heading 67 miles to the Louisiana State Penitentiary known as Angola. It’s the largest maximum security prison in the US with 5000 inmates and 1800 staff. We’ll be going on a driving tour through the prison. Lot’s more to do today so keep watching you never know what we’ll run into.

Angola Prison or Alcatraz of the South or The Farm, by whatever name is a high security prison, most inmates here have been sentenced to life in prison and at Angola that means with no chance for parol. The prison was opened in 1901, located on 18000 acres, we were greeted by the prison media person, super nice guy. They opened the museum just for us, we were also met by a journalist for the prison magazine, also a prisoner, he’s going to publish a story in the Angola prison magazine about our trip. At Angola, they’ve gone from one of the most dangerous and feared prisons to something more humane, they try to make the inmates life worth living, they have an accredited theological college inside, they learn farming, cattle and horses, groundskeeping and many other trades, the lifers then train the potential parolees these trades. It was a very eye opening tour.

Yes, there’s even a gift shop.

The annual rodeo draws fans from around the world. Only those prisoners with good behavior can participate.

A couple inmates, looks like Jerry and Jeff. Better get out of there boys, don’t think this is a place you’d want to stay.

Local crafts made by the inmates.

They still use this hearse at funerals on the prison grounds.

Lot’s of history being explained.

Couldn’t help myself, I prefer nature to prisons.

Yikes, that’s alot of barbed wire.

I think we’re coming up to the original cell block.

Oops, there I go again. I like these prison views.

At least they try to make it pretty.

After our prison tour it was time to get Barb to the airport. She’s heading back to Texas. Bye Barb, I’ll send you my Lefse recipe. (She’s Texan and doesn’t know Lefse)

Lunch stop at the Magnolia Cafe and Motor Court. After a good lunch and a little work on Bob’s car we were off to Baton Rouge and the USS Kidd. We got a personal after hours tour from a nice ROTC kid.

Reminds me of our RT. 66 trip, but then we are traveling the backroads of America.

Spanish Moss grows mainly in the south on larger trees such as the Southern Live Oak.

Minor repairs to Bob’s car and we were off.

Never did figure out what this building was.

I think Jim would like to enlist, sorry honey it’s in drydock.

Gerry’s girls, Mary Carol, Joanie, Penny, Lisa (wife) and Judy.

Getting the red carpet tour.

He’s still a kid at heart. And no honey, you can’t stay and play.

When was the last time you saw a Frostop Root Beer stand, Bob?

Happy day, I love vacations.
This morning in Vicksburg it’s a beautiful 55 and sunny. We’re heading down the road to Natchez, Mississippi, 128 miles by Great River Road.
Some of the things we’ll see today and I haven’t heard of any of these but that’s what makes these road trips fun, interesting and educational. The Church of the Golden Hand, the Windsor Ruins, a tour of the Longwood Plantation, lunch stop at Mammy’s Cupboard, the Jerry Lee Lewis Museum and drive through liquor store and the Frogmore Plantation & Cotton Gins. Sounds like an interesting day doesn’t it? I’ll be back with pics later.
Down the road 31 miles is Port Gibson, this is where the Church of the Golden Hand is located. The church was built in 1860, the hand pointing to heaven is a unique feature of Romanesque style. The hand was repaired and replated in 1990.

The Golden Hand is pointing to heaven.

The clock is original to the building and tolls on the hour.

Below are pics of Windsor Ruins, built in1859-60, Windsor covered 2600 acres, had 25 rooms and 25 fireplaces. It was used as a Union hospital during the Civil War and was thus spared from ruin by the Yankees. Windsor burned down in 1890 due to a carelessly left burning cigar. All that remains are 23 columns and an iron staircase that is now part of Alcorn State University.

This is what it looked like in the good ole days.

We’ve been seeing a lot of a quick growing vine called Kudzu. Originally brought over from Japan to help stop corrosion, it is overtaking anything in it’s path.

It’s hard to see but that’s Kudzu growing all over everything.

More Kudzu

Our next stop in Natchez was the Longwood Plantation. Built in the 1860’s by Dr. Haller Nutt a multi millionaire, it was to be a 6 story, 32 room, 30,000 square ft Octagonal Oriental Revival Style mansion. The Civil War broke out so construction stopped and then Dr. Nutt died in 1864 never completing the house. Having lost his fortune to the war, his wife was unable to finish the house but did continue to live on the first floor.
We could not take pictures of the living areas but much of the original furnishings and paintings remain in the house.

Up on the unfinished second floor.

Stopped for lunch at Mammy’s Cupboard, built in 1940. Open only for lunch, they have great food.

Jeff, John, Mary Carol, Jerry, Barb, Roy and Jim, waiting for lunch.

Joanie, Bob, Lisa, Gerry and Paul.

Mammy’s Cupboard in Natchez, Mississippi.
The Jerry Lee Lewis Museum & Drive Through Liquor Store in Ferriday, LA. was our next interesting stop, don’t quite know what to say about this place, maybe words will come later.

We did go inside, sorry I don’t have pictures it was a little dark. Lot’s of Jerry Lee Lewis memorabilia, including a piano, records pictures, autographs and lots of other stuff. Cost us $10, would only do that once.
The Frogmore Plantation and Cotton Gins in Frogmore took us back in time to the life of living on a cotton plantation in the mid 1800’s. Found this to be very interesting and educational. The owners have kept it much as it looked during the time of slave ownership.

Slaves houses.

The cotton gin.

That’s a bale of cotton.

Telling us about life on a plantation.

The cotton is ready to pick.

They don’t pick by hand anymore.

Our tour guide is a descendant from one of the original slave families on this farm.

Natchez, MS below

Our next dinner stop in Natchez.

Wasn’t impressed with the food.

My honey.

We are in the historic Civil War city of Vicksburg. The day will be absolutely beautiful lots of sun, not to hot and no driving. Going to the Vicksburg National Military Park established in 1899, we’ll be traveling by bus through 16 miles of battlefield.
Gaining control over the Mississippi would be a turning point in the war. After a siege that lasted 47 days, Vicksburg fell to Grants Army. We saw many state monuments, battle markers and statues. We also saw the Union ironclad gunboat, the Cairo, destroyed North of Vicksburg which was salvaged in 1960.

The gang on the bus.

Vicksburg Battlefield

Minnesota Monument erected in 1907. It was each states prerogative to build their own monuments.

The battlefield. At that time there were no trees, it was all field.

Listening to the tour guide.

Illinois Memorial dedicated in 1906, there are 47 steps, one for each day of the seige. Inside are the names o 36,325 Illinois soldiers who participated in the Vicksburg campaign.

The Ironclad Cairo, salvaged in 1960.

View of the Mississippi.

Arkansas Memorial dedictated in 1954.

Our tour guide Harold. Very knowledgeable on the battle of Vicksburg. He had all kinds of stories to tell, could have listened to him all day.

Texas Memorial was completed in 1963.

Later in the afternoon we went to the Biedenharn Museum of Coca Cola History. This is the restored building where Coca Cola was first bottled in 1894, on the National Register of Historic Places.

Last night we were at the Gold Strike Casino, unfortunately no big winners in our group.
Beautiful sunny morning, we’re driving 215 miles to Vicksburg, MS. We’ve been seeing more cotton fields, they look like popcorn bushes. Small shacks selling fried Catfish and roadside BBQ’s the freestanding grill variety.
Fun fact: The volume of flow on the Mississippi ranges from 6 cu ft per second at Lake Itasca to 12,000 in Minneapolis and 600,000 cu ft per second in New Orleans.

Saying goodbye to friends of John and Mary Carol this morning, Dave and Kathy in the 2007 Corvette Gatorade car, 1 of 3 made.

Below are random shots on our way to Vicksburg.

Captain Paul, he always has a smile on his face, loves that car and the open road.

Lots of cotton fields, looks like popcorn to me.

Lisa and Gerry sharing a turkey leg.

Jeff and Penny liked the fried Chicken Tenders.

Crop dusters buzzed us overhead.

We’re the blue dot on our way to Doe’s Eat Place.

Well renowned Doe’s Eat Place a family tradition since 1941. We stopped for Tamales but they are really famous for their steaks. They received the James Beard award in 2007, written up be the Food Network, Bon Appetit and Southern Living.

Gerry waiting on his Tamales

Enjoying the fresh hot Tamales.

We were joined by a Harley group touring the river road from Monaco. They were disappointed the steaks were only served after 5:00, they stayed and chatted with us for awhile and then headed out, there were about 12 of them, they rented their bikes in Chicago.

Last year they took a trip on RT 66.

Located in Greenville. Greenville was hit by a devastating flood in 1927.

Historic St. Mathews Church.

Don’t even ask, roadside attraction, we were curious so had to stop.

I understand some guy built this shrine for his deceased wife.

Old train station in Vicksburg.

Vicksburg on the river.

Downtown Historic Vicksburg.
Relaxing after a long drive today, the Hampton Inn has happy hour every night with beer, wine and apps so we’re taking advantage of their generosity.
Great fun with great friends.

Gerry, Lisa and Jeff.

Kathy, Joanie, Bob and Mary Carol.

Joanie, Bob, Mary Carol and John.

Jerry and Barbara having a great time.

Lisa, Penny and Jeff.

We’re waiting for the pizza to come.

Great time, we’ll be here tomorrow night to so more beers and more fun.

Leaving Union City at 8:00 this morning, we’re driving 118 miles to Graceland. We were there 23 years ago, wonder if they’ve kept the place up.
Staying at the Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, MS.
Going to be a beautiful day, blue skies and temps in the 80’s.
Mississippi fact: Sediment load carried by the river averages 436 tons per day, or 159 million tons of silt and sediment per year.
We spent the whole day at Graceland, below are some random pictures.

Isn’t that a pretty sight?

Cotton fields north of Memphis.

The gang at Graceland.

Getting ready for an audio tour.

Mary Carol and John

Entering the home of Elvis.

Everything looks like it did when he was alive.

Reflecting. Where were you when Elvis died?

What do you think, almost looks like Elvis.

Mary’s hungry. Where’s that big eater Doug to help her out.

This should be fun, we did get the group rate $49 rooms.